What do you do if your work-life balance in Corporate Communications is out of sync?

I think by assessing reality, as leaders in any organization, it’s best to look at yourself. If you are tired, unproductive, likely you will reflect overall company’s wellbeing.

Whomever came up with the phrase "work-life balance" is full of it. You can't have work without "life." Life comes first, and work has its place.

I think by assessing reality, as leaders in any organization, it’s best to look at yourself. If you are tired, unproductive, likely you will reflect overall company’s wellbeing.

The moment this realization comes, leave everything for two hours and breathe. You will understand the actuality - 'Your company or your family did not lose anything, and it was only you who was stressed.' But after this two-hour gap, you will be more relaxed and out of that hustle-bustle mode. This practice will bring you to reality.

Here are some steps one can take to achieve a healthier work life balance: 1. Discuss flexible work arrangements like remote work options or compressed workweeks. 2. Make it clear when you'll be available outside of work hours. Avoid checking work emails or taking calls constantly after work. 3. Utilize time management methods like setting realistic deadlines, creating to-do lists, and scheduling breaks. 4. Block out personal time in your calendar, just like you would for work meetings. By taking these steps and advocating for yourself, you can achieve a more sustainable and fulfilling career in Corporate Communications.

Setting clear boundaries and expectations through "relationship contracts" with peers and supervisors is paramount. Establishing upfront agreements ensures that everyone understands each other's commitments and respects personal time. As an example, I'm responsible for daycare drop-offs and pickups, and I've communicated that these times are non-negotiable (its on my calendar). I have a few hours a day with my child and I consider those precious. By outlining boundaries, you protect your work-life balance and preserve crucial personal time. Additionally, consider what you're solving for—is it fragile like glass ball that could shatter if dropped or made of plastic and can wait till tomorrow in order to protect whats most important now?

Consider setting specific times each day to check email. Have an autoresponder that states, "I check emails at XX and YY each workday and will respond then." Setting expectations and then sticking to them is hard, but often worthwhile.

Setting boundaries will help preserve your energy, manage your time and the expectations of your stakeholders. Sticking to these boundaries is the hardest part, but it's worth it to maintain structure at work and your mental health.

I believe you need to have some non-negotiables and clearly communicate them with your team and with your manager. My manager instituted a "user manual" which covers all types of topics including best ways to communicate, how we receive feedback, and primary deep work and meeting hours which helps foster greater understanding with everyone. That said, we also need to be realistic that sometimes with work, as in life, there are times when you'll need to flex to handle specific situations. It should only be for specific periods of time and situations, though. If it becomes the norm then you need to reassess your situation.

In connected world settings boundaries may not be possible. If one can, then nothing like it. But generally one has to adapt to a mixed personal and professional time.

In the realm of Corporate Communications, the workload often appears overwhelming. It's important to prioritize tasks by their urgency and significance, ensuring that those with deadlines or critical importance to company operations are given priority. This way it helps in reducing chaos and it will lead to more effective operations overall!

We've all experienced it before: moments when there are so many competing requests, projects and deadlines coming our way that we begin to worry that at some point a ball will be dropped. As soon as you spot the problem, make a list of "all the things" and carefully prioritise them. I tend to use dates as well as colour codes to track progress. Then set aside time, ideally by blocking it out in your shared calendar, for each task. Finally, communicate with those around you and, if possible, negotiate deadlines that are reasonable rather than pulled out of thin-air.

Besides prioritizing tasks, I think it's essential to allocate specific time slots for different types of work, such as responding to emails, drafting reports, or attending meetings. This helps in maintaining focus and avoiding distractions.

Stating priorities goes a long way. In communications everything seems important, but not everything is urgent. Chose the topics that will bring out the best and most complete output to clear out the "noise" and deliver what needs to be done. To avoid eventual fatigue, map out the activities you need to do, so you can easily access what will be the most time-consuming periods and already plan what you can delegate or what you will prioritise. When planning that, plan the best and worst case scenario and leave buffer time in case you'll need it.

What Stage are you? If one is in the first 5 years of career then prioritise work. You would have learnt enough to know when to prioritise what. It is generally never about balancing work and life. It is about deciding what takes priority at a particular stage. If one is ambitious, work will generally take priority. Decide for yourselves and do not base it on anyone else. Everyone has a different life.

As a comms person, creativity forms a part of my work so being stressed from a rigid 9-5 onsite schedule may not help. Flexible working conditions relax the mind and boost creativity and skills to help me achieve my goals and there's nothing more satisfying than working in a company that understands and encourages work-life balance.

In my experience you should navigate the demanding workload of corporate communications while maintaining focus on what truly matters for the success of your company. You should start by listing all tasks and projects with deadlines. Determine the importance of each task or project. Consider its impact on company goals, reputation, or revenue generation. Push Back When Necessary. Reflect on your prioritization process regularly and look for opportunities to improve efficiency.

If you're employed, you likely get vacation and/or other forms of PTO days - TAKE THEM! This is part of your total compensation, and you're literally leaving money on the table if you don't.

Recharge regularly. You cannot be confined to taking two or three holidays a year; make sure you recharge daily, weekly, and regularly. Pick up a book or watch your favorite series more often than you do to refresh your mind. Do mindful conversations with people and discuss ideas if that makes you happy. Work-life balance is a state of mind; do what makes you happy to keep your mind active. ??

If the stress levels are high, consider professional qualified counseling. We are occupied with so many things that sometimes we cannot analyse our situation so let the one qualified do it. Also make sure that your organisation is aware of your situation, they may not be able to help but knowing matters.

Over the course of my career, I’ve learned that asking for help from teammates ISN’T a sign of weakness. On the contrary, it means you recognize your own limitations, realize the gravity of the situation & know that you don’t need to do everything yourself all the time. I’ve also learned to raise my hand and signal I need some help SOONER than 20-something me did, back when I mistakenly thought “real leaders” suck it up and power through difficult situations.

Be respectful and prepared: Don't unleash months of pent-up frustration on your manager. Rather, approach the conversation with a solutions-based mindset and willingness to compromise. This means being prepared to speak about what you need and why it's important. Start by making a list of your projects and priorities and the time you spend on each task. Be open about where you know you can improve in addition to getting support. No matter what, it's important to highlight the fact that you're feeling overwhelmed so your boss can understand the challenge you're facing.

Achieving a healthy work-life balance is an ongoing process that requires conscious effort and regular reassessment. Being organized, knowing your priorities, and utilizing your available resources will always help normalize the most urgent situation, either at work or in your personal life. Regular reassessment is also essential in maintaining a balanced lifestyle. As circumstances change and priorities evolve, individuals must periodically evaluate their work-life balance and adjust as needed. It may involve revisiting goals, revising schedules, or seeking additional support to address emerging challenges and opportunities to maintain work-life balance in Corporate Communications.